Comfort Ero President & CEO Nairobi, Kenya Please submit all media inquiries to cero@crisisgroup.org and media@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Dr Comfort Ero was appointed Crisis Group’s President & CEO in December 2021. She joined the organisation as West Africa Project Director in 2001 and rose to become Africa Program Director and then, in January 2021, Interim Vice President. Dr Ero has spent her entire career working in or in conflict-affected countries. In between her two tenures at Crisis Group, she served as Deputy Africa Program Director for the International Centre for Transitional Justice (2008-2010) and, prior to that, Political Affairs Officer and Policy Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Mission in Liberia (2004-2007). She has a PhD from the London School of Economics, University of London. Dr Ero is also the Chair of the Board of the Rift Valley Institute and sits on the editorial board of various journals, including International Peacekeeping. Areas of Expertise Conflict prevention, management and resolution Mediation Peacekeeping Transitional justice Politics and international relations of Africa Professional Background Deputy Africa Program Director for the International Centre for Transitional Justice (2008-2010) Political Affairs Officer and Policy Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, United Nations Mission in Liberia (2004-2007) Project Director, West Africa Office, International Crisis Group (2001-2004) Research Fellow, Conflict, Security & Development Group, Centre for Defence Studies, King's College, London (1999-2001) Research Associate, International Institute for Strategic Studies, London (1998-1999) PhD from the London School of Economics, University of London Languages English (native) French (conversant) In The News 8 Jan 2020 Burkina is a gateway to coastal West Africa and there is a real concern that jihadist groups may see it as a launching pad to gain other footholds in the coastal region. Financial Times Comfort Ero President & CEO 31 May 2018 The AU is a bureaucratic body that has no immediate answers for the widespread support for third-termism by African leaders today. The body is missing in action in the matters of its member countries (and should) champion the aspirations of ordinary Africans. Lasentinel Comfort Ero President & CEO 15 Feb 2017 Despite the rise of new security structures in [Africa] the last few years, [they] haven't done much to change the [political] dynamic on the ground. All Africa Comfort Ero President & CEO 13 Oct 2016 We have to think very carefully about the use of violence [against Boko Haram], sometimes it is necessary, but it mustn’t aggravate the situation, rather it must help to reduce or resolve the conflict. Force should be used cautiously. Leadership Comfort Ero President & CEO Latest Updates Podcast / Global 21 January 2022 Special Episode: Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2022 Which conflicts should we worry about most in 2022? This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and guest host Ásdís Ólafsdóttir talk to Crisis Group’s President & CEO Comfort Ero about our flagship survey “10 Conflicts to Watch”. Commentary / Global 29 December 2021 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2022 Troubling undercurrents in 2021 – from the U.S. to Afghanistan, Ethiopia or the climate emergency – didn’t send battle deaths soaring or set the world ablaze. But as our look ahead to 2022 shows, many bad situations round the world could easily get worse. Also available in Español Podcast / Africa 10 December 2021 Russia in Africa This week on Hold your Fire!, Richard Atwood and guest host Comfort Ero are joined by Africa expert Pauline Bax to discuss Russia in Africa, its ambitions on the continent, the role of Russian military contractors and how Western powers view Moscow’s rising profile. Speech / Middle East & North Africa 30 November 2021 Speech to the UNSC on Israel-Palestine In 30 November remarks to the UN Security Council, Crisis Group's Interim Vice President Comfort Ero laid out arguments for rethinking the framework of peacemaking in Israel-Palestine as well as steps various parties can take to improve the situation on the ground in the meantime. Also available in العربية Op-Ed / Africa 13 September 2021 Africa and COP26: What way forward? Climate talks must pay more attention to African voices, not just of governments but of the people. Originally published in African Arguments Load more